[ProTrek Review] PRG-600-1ER — Advanced New Style Watch

A tourist watch in the life of an average resident of a megalopolis … For some reason, such an association arises when the model PRG-600-1ER [direction ProTrek] appears. Yes, the G-Shock fans and Co., the novelty is already on my wrist, so we will dive into its study.

The PRG-600 series has been surprising since its first blog post [PRG-600 is a new format ana-Digi] and continues to do so even now. At first I drew attention to a fabric strap, which is often used in cases not quite office.

No, not mega functional features, namely its designer beauty. Agree, we haven’t seen such ProTrek yet.

Ordinary Arabic numerals on the dial? They are not found everywhere, only in key places, but they already make a significant contribution to the creation of a new image. Large hands, large readable hour markers, a large head of the “winding” and we have before us some analogue of the cult U-BOAT:

Damn, they are not very similar [arrows and Arabic numbers are also present]. If you really want to, you can find similarities [my case].

What is the ProTrek line? It is always a lot of functions [compass, barometer, thermometer], their convenient use in a complex environment and the right materials [lightness, strength]. All components are present in the PRG-600-1ER, however, with a couple of exceptions: the analogue time display is at the core, and the functions have faded into the background. This often happens with ana-Digi format, where the love of arrows reduces the functional advantage.

The Japanese, for their part, decided to kill two birds with one stone: to attract a passive and active audience of consumers [in relation to sports, tourism]. The series has become both beautiful and [if necessary] functional, which means more sales, more fans. Since I belong to the category “extreme once a year, and even that is very light”, the PRG-600-1ER immediately liked it. And what, they’ll come down for every day, plus I can boast of an altimeter in the mountains. Casio have hit the nail on the head.

PRG-600-1ER looks very, very beautiful on the hand. Such a piece of a stylish image that immediately attracts attention.

The hands and hour markers stand out against the general dark background and claim to be like ordinary hand watches. Only the caciophane’s expert gaze will determine the direction and identify the triple sensor with solar power.

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The dial is moderately loaded with information. City cuts on the bezel hint at the function of world time, and also perfectly correspond to the philosophy of ProTrek – travel to any corner of our planet.

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The metal bezel does not rotate. I draw your attention to the material [metal], since the same PRW-3000s are famous for a peeling bezel, but here such a problem was practically eliminated.

Information in the electronic window is read with a bang. The Japanese are talking about using the new STN LCD, which contributes to better readability. Being a person is not very in the subject, I did not see significant differences from a simple LCD. Compared to the PRW-3000, the background in the PRG-600 is lighter, which creates a better contrast with the digital indexes [the displayed data is large, almost the entire width of the electronic window]. Perhaps this is the advantage of STN.

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Mineral glass is flat, does not protrude above the bezel and this is good. Nevertheless, the bezel still does not fulfill a protective function – both elements are located almost at the same level.

I am writing the text [in the evening, under the lighting of a table lamp] looking at the PRG-600-1ER and immediately notice the hands and hour markers [they are, by the way, with a non-shaving coating]. The ideal level of reading information.

Just look, you already have digital data. The feeling of an ordinary watch does not leave me, but this is ProTrek, gentlemen. Beautiful ProTrek-i.

Functions ABC sensor [triple sensor], it is also an altimeter / barometer, compass, thermometer. It is up to you to decide how and for what purpose to use it. It exists and is suitable even for professional tasks. This is a new generation triple sensor that allows the watch to be light and not very large. The ease surprised me, the watch is almost not felt on the hand [51.60 mm x 51.50 mm x 13.40 mm, weight 78 grams].

When I see ana-digi format, I immediately plunge into the instructions and look for the Hand Shift function [forced movement of the hands to neutral positions for the benefit of convenient viewing of information from an electronic board]. If you remember the old reviews, then Hand Shift [as a rule] is activated by simultaneously pressing two buttons. In the comments, once they were outraged, they say, this is uncomfortable. I tried at random – it did not work. I read the instructions. I was surprised. You won’t believe that in the PRG-600 series the Hand Shift function works AUTOMATICALLY. The logic is as follows – in the operating mode of the ABC sensor or temperature, the hands automatically run away to the “4” or “8” hours position [if they block at least some part of the electronic window]. A very convenient solution. I even thought about a glitch [it’s very unusual to see the arrows moving nervously], but no. This is a feature :). Stop, what about the stopwatch? With the active mode, do the arrows run away too? I decided to figure it out [I had to wait 10 minutes for the minute hand to close the window]. Unfortunately, nothing happens. Got upset. I study the instructions further and find a solution – it turns out that manual mode is also present. It is activated by simultaneously pressing the backlight button and the lower left button. Clicking is very inconvenient, but if necessary, very much in the subject.

What I like about the dials is the compass. The second hand transforms into a compass needle and points to a specific side. Feeling like a classic compass in your hands.

Auto hand home position correction – automatic correction of hands to the data of the digital window. The main trouble of the ana-Digi format is that the arrows deviate from the indicators of digital data [the main reason, according to the manufacturer, is magnetic exposure or a sharp blow, etc.]. This is very embarrassing for someone, and someone pays no attention at all [just does not take out the time in digital format]. In any case, there is a lot of negativity on the forums and the Casio decided to correct this item using automatic correction. The bottom line: the watch periodically adjusts itself to electronic time. For the most avid critics, a manual correction solution appeared [at any time you can fix it yourself]. Stopwatch, alarms, timer and other typical functions, of course, come in a set.

Technology. I can not help but be surprised at the absence of the Tough Solar inscription on the main display. A year ago, all Casio watches were painted with this name, but here only on the back cover. Interestingly, can solar power become the standard for all Casio watches? It would be cool [and expensive]. You understand, solar power is present.

Smart Access – the head performs a greater visual role than a functional one. Minimal involvement in the functional process. At least that seemed to me. The watch is frost-resistant and will work adequately at -10 ° C. What comes next, the manufacturer does not say. Surely, digital data will start to slow down.

Backlight Double LED backlight: one is responsible for the digital window, the second is the analog display [around the bezel]. I declare with all confidence – the lighting is perfect. This is some completely new world of mega readability even in the darkest working conditions.

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Photos can only hint [not so transmit the level of light], but in real life, the backlight is even cooler. A banal example: lighting is enough to “recharge” non-shaving coating on the hands and hour marks.

Agree, this is a loud statement. Automatic response is configured as desired. The backlight button is very secretive, located under the mark of 6 hours.

“Specifications of PRG-600”]

• Case / bezel material: Resin / Stainless steel
• Silicon band
• Mineral Glass
• Neobrite
• Screw Lock Crown
• 100-meter water resistance

• Double LED light
  LED light for the face (Full auto LED light, selectable illumination duration, afterglow)
  LED backlight for the digital display (Full auto LED light, selectable illumination duration, afterglow)
• Solar powered
• Low-temperature resistant (-10°C/14 °F)
• The auto hand home position correction
• Digital compass
  Measures and displays direction as one of 16 points
  Measuring range: 0 to 359°
  Measuring unit: 1°
  60 seconds continuous measurement
  Hand indication of north
  Bidirectional calibration
  Magnetic declination correction
• Altimeter
  Measuring range: –700 to 10,000 m (–2,300 to 32,800 ft.)
  Measuring unit: 1 m (5 ft.)
  Hand indication of altitude differential
  Manual memory measurements (up to 30 records, each including altitude, date, time)
  Auto log data (High/low altitudes, cumulative ascent and descent)
  Others: Relative altitude readings (±100 m/±1000 m),
  Selectable measurement interval: 5 seconds or 2 minutes
  *1 second for first 3 minutes only
  *Changeover between meters (m) and feet (ft)
• Barometer
  Display range: 260 to 1,100 hPa (7.65 to 32.45 inHg)
  Display unit: 1 hPa (0.05 inHg)
  Hand indication of pressure differential
  Atmospheric pressure tendency graph
  Barometric pressure tendency information alarm (beep and arrow indicates significant changes in pressure)
  *Changeover between hPa and inHg
• Thermometer
  Display range: -10 to 60 °C (14 to 140 °F)
  Display unit: 0.1 °C (0.2 °F)
  *Changeover between Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F)
• World time
  29 time zones (29 cities + coordinated universal time), One-touch UTC Time Zone Access, daylight saving on/off, Home city/World time city swapping
• 1/100-second stopwatch
  Measuring capacity: 23:59’59.99”
  Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
• Countdown timer
  Measuring unit: 1 second
  Countdown range: 60 minutes
  Countdown start time setting range: 1 second to 60 minutes (1-second increments, 1-minute increments)
• 5 daily alarms
• Hourly time signal
• Hand shift feature (manual or auto (during altitude, barometric pressure, and temperature measurement))
• Battery level indicator
• Power Saving (display goes blank and hands stop to save power when the watch is left in the dark)
• Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
• 12/24-hour format
• Button operation tone on/off
• Regular timekeeping:
  Analog: 3 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 10 seconds), second)
  Digital: Hour, minute, second, am/pm, date, day
• Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
• Approx battery operating time:
  7 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after charge)
  25 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge) Size of case : 51.6×51.5×13.4mm
• Total weight : 78g

Strap. The English official description reads: “Silicon band”, while the Russian representative office translates as “Strap made of polymer material”. In principle, silicone is a silicon-based plastic, which means it is a polymer substance. In fact, many straps can be called polymer, because here it all depends on the composition of this polymer. Sorry, something I booted [correct if something is wrong].

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The silicone is wide, easily bends and easily returns to its position. The strap belongs to the “even” category, when the watch can be easily put on the back cover. In PRG-600-1ER there are no special arcs that conveniently wrap around the wrist [on the back side], but there are additional links that perform a similar role. The upper part of the strap is denser, which allows the plastic structure to fix the bend of the strap during girth. I wanted to get a model with a fabric strap, but it did not work out. There are no complaints about silicone, it must work out.

Conclusion

Many letters, many emotions. This is the watch that I was waiting for and which was fortunate enough to study in detail. They fully satisfy my needs – functional, cute, practical. The feeling of a detailed study of all the minor flaws on the part of the manufacturer does not leave: they complained about a shabby bezel – here you have a metal base, the arrows do not correspond to the digital window – here you have automatic and manual correction, the arrows close the electronic window – catch the Hand Shift function plus automatic operation. The backlight is perfect, do not worry about the battery [solar power], and the strap is good. Perhaps tourism professionals will negate this type of dial, but the PRG-600 is not for constant trips on hikes. It is more of a city story that skillfully combines a unique look with an inner spirit of adventure.

Read Quick News on PRG-600:

• [PROTREK 2023] PRG-601PE-5 x PENDLETON Wool Wear Collaboration
• [ProTrek Review] PRG-600YB-3ER with a wider nylon strap
• [ProTrek Review] PRG-600-1ER — Advanced New Style Watch

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Firstly published, but we carefully translated into English.